Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin told WAND News she is concerned about security risks tied to inverters, batteries and other components of solar panels and wind turbines.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — An Illinois Republican lawmaker has filed a bill to ban the use of renewable energy components made by foreign adversaries in any Illinois energy projects.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin told WAND News her plan could protect the state's energy grid and national security.

The Morris Republican said she is concerned about security risks tied to inverters, batteries and other components of solar panels and wind turbines. 

A recent Reuters investigation found hidden communication devices in solar panel inverters and batteries manufactured in China. Although, Reuters has not named the company involved.

"In November of 2024, a remote disabling of Chinese manufactured inverters disrupted systems in the US and other countries," Rezin said. "Many countries are moving to pass legislation. Hopefully our country will, as well as the state of Illinois, to protect us."

Rezin's proposal could create procurement standards and increase transparency requirements for energy infrastructure connected to the grid. She said this change could allow Illinois to have more information from vendors about the origin and capabilities of their technology.

"This is just a perfect example of a product that we should be building in the United States, preferably in the great state of Illinois," Rezin said. "We should not be allowing foreign adversaries such as China or North Korea to build these products and then embed them in our system." 

Rezin stressed this is not about politics, as other members of the National Conference of State Legislatures discussed the idea during their energy task force meeting last month.

"This is just one of a huge package of bills that we should be looking at in a bipartisan manner to protect our assets in Illinois and protect our assets in this country from foreign interference," Rezin added.

The Illinois Environmental Council told WAND News that they agree energy infrastructure needs to be secure, reliable, and protected from foreign interference. The organization said they support thoughtful oversight of the grid and related infrastructure, but they want to ensure the proposed legislation does not create a broad ban or unintended roadblocks for renewable energy development.

"It's critical to ensure procurement standards are precise, based on real cybersecurity risks, and don't slow down Illinois' progress toward clean, local and affordable energy, particularly amidst the Trump administration's most recent attacks on funding for clean energy and manufacturing," the Illinois Environmental Council stated.

Senate bill 2674 could be assigned to a committee when lawmakers return to Springfield for veto session this fall. 

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